Effect of Hydroxymethyl Glutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase Inhibitor on High Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Levels in Hypercholesterolemic Patients without Atherosclerotic Diseases

Background and Objectives:High C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The hydroxymethyl glutaryl Coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statin) lowers the CRP level in the population of developed countries. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of statin on the CRP levels in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients without atherosclerotic diseases. Subjects and Methods:A total of 32 patients with hypercholesterolemia, administered 20 mg lovastatin or 10 mg atorvastatin, and the same number of similar aged, sex-matched, hypercholesterolemic patients, as a control group, were enrolled. Non-drug measures were recommended for those without the medication. The patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases were excluded. The lipid profiles and high sensitive CRP levels were measured before and after 2 months of the medication. Results:The baseline CRP levels were not related to the levels of lipids. Statin therapy reduced the CRP levels from 2.17±2.40 (median value 1.11) mg/L to 1.24± 1.79 (0.68) mg/L (p=0.003). In all the cases, the magnitude of change in the CRP was related to the statin therapy allocation and the magnitude of changes in the total and low density lipoprotein cholesterols in a univariate analysis. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that only the statin therapy allocation was an independent variable. For each group, no significant relationship between the changes of CRP and lipids was observed. Conclusion:Short term statin therapy reduced the CRP levels in Korean hypercholesterolemic patients without atherosclerotic diseases, and the phenomenon was independent of the changes in lipids. (Korean Circulation J 2004;34 (4):381-387)